The Gascoyne Women’s Refuge has continued to deliver crucial crisis accommodation and support services to women and children escaping FDV. Clients at the refuge are provided 24/7 on-site support and wraparound services.
Our purpose-built facility has been operating in Carnarvon is designed to be accessible to all women, including women with disability, older women, women from Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and women with families. As such the building gets a great deal of use throughout the year however has not had any major works or upgrades since it opened in 1989. During 2022 the management and staff attached to the Gascoyne Women’s Refuge have worked hard to improve the appearance and aesthetics of the facility for the many clients that come and stay in particular the outdoor areas to help foster wellbeing.
Our staff attended a number of new training initiatives and will continue to upskill in order to continuously improve industry knowledge and our services to women and children.
The Gascoyne Women’s Refuge continues to offer a safe place and a home away from home in a time of need for short periods of time. Management intends to work hard on transitional housing for the Refuge in 2023 and have already commenced community and state consultation regarding transitional housing.
New Children’s Room
The biggest achievement this year was without doubt the inception of the new Children’s Room. The refuge is often full and many of the residents are mothers with children however we have not had a children’s room for some time.
Due to the generous financial assistance from Soroptimist International Carnarvon and Horizon Power, a fully functional Children’s Room was able to be created. The room provides for both fantasy play and educational learning and provides the children with much needed respite from their day to day lives while residing at the refuge.
Our partners Desert Blue Connect in Geraldton also donated toys and items for the childcare room throughout the year.
Other Donations
During the first part of the year the Carnarvon Bike Club generously donated $1000.00 to the refuge to use as needed for the clients. These funds were used to purchase new lounge covers and table covers and the bean bags for the new child care room.
Believe it or not 1122kms away from Carnarvon live the lovely ladies from the Narembeem Autumn Club who have also been extremely generous to the Refuge. Whilst travelling through Carnarvon the ladies donated an array of handmade toys and blankets for the residents and children. Needless to say these were greatly appreciated by all.
